Treasured Possession

DEVOTION

EXODUS

TREASURED POSSESSION

Ex 19:1-6

19:1 In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt — on the very day — they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

NIV

The Israelites traveled for three months with the pillar of smoke by day leading them and the pillar of fire at night giving them light. Now they arrived at Mt. Sinai, often referred to as the mountain of God. Here is where Moses went up to speak to God or rather where God spoke to Moses. How exactly that conversation was carried on we can only imagine. God had to have spoken to Moses in an audible voice, not just impressing Moses within himself of the words he wanted him to hear. What an experience that must have been to hear the voice of God, which we will certainly be able to do some day. What God said to Moses carries us right into the New Testament. He told them if they obeyed him fully and kept his covenant, out of all the nations they would be his treasured possession. He told them they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. It would certainly seem the nation of Israel today does not fit that description, in fact many Israelis are very secular and may not actually be Jews. The difference being is Israelis define a nation, Jewish defines a religion. We may mistakenly think Israel is God’s chosen nation when it is the people who are defined by his covenant who are his most treasured possession. Who can obey him fully? Certainly it was not the children of Israel. The one and only one who can obey him fully is in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the new covenant in which we live. We already know that the true Jew is one who is not circumcised in the flesh, but rather of the heart.

Rom 2:28-29

28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

NIV

Therefore being the nation of royal priests is not about the physical nation of Israel, but about the people who are within the covenant of God. Jesus is that covenant and because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior we have become that nation of royal priests, a holy nation, set apart for God.

1 Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

NIV

Peter was writing to the gentiles, to us. We can never be an Israeli, although we could convert to Judaism, but that too would not make us this holy nation, or royal priests belonging to God. No it all stems on accepting Jesus. We can never ever fully obey God. We can never be perfect, but only in Christ. God has in fact carried us on eagles’ wings right to Jesus. Jesus sent the Spirit to carry us there, to convict us of our need to repent, and accept Jesus.  So here we are, God’s treasured possession.